Alaska moves to modernize child‑care access: new information system, LiveScan pilot and proposed 'friends, families and neighbors' license

Commissioner Heidi Hedberg told the House Health and Social Services Committee on Jan. 28, 2025, that the Department of Health is implementing multiple recommendations from the governor’s child‑care task force and rolling out technical and licensing changes intended to expand access and reduce administrative burden.

Hedberg said the child‑care task force produced two reports with 56 recommendations; the department reported 13 implemented and work underway on 21 recommendations. The department has launched a new Alaska Child Care Information System, described as a single database with three portals that will be phased to providers and families. Hedberg said the system replaces paper forms with fillable electronic forms and is intended to shorten application processing time and reduce incomplete submissions.

To speed background checks, the department has purchased LiveScan fingerprint equipment and will pilot the technology in four rural communities at state office buildings, Hedberg said. The pilot is intended to shorten fingerprint processing times for childcare licensing, with a possible later roll‑out to additional sites.

Hedberg also described a proposed new license category, known as “friends, families and neighbors,” aimed at increasing subsidy access for home‑based caregivers in communities without licensed childcare providers. The department said the license would apply to home‑based providers and would require the same health and safety standards as other licensed providers; the department has not yet initiated rulemaking or a start date and said details such as specific square‑footage or ratio requirements will be developed after further review.

The department said it will use federal preschool development grant funds for coaching and consultation to help providers manage children with behavioral needs and for early start‑up funds to assist Alaskans opening new centers. Hedberg also said the governor’s budget proposes two positions in the childcare program office, including one specifically to coordinate business and childcare sector connections (for example, identifying vacant school or state facilities suitable for childcare use).

Lawmakers raised questions about timeline and regulatory details. Representative Donna Mears described interest in co‑locating childcare in school facilities and said fire‑code nap requirements differ between early childcare and school‑age spaces. Hedberg said the state defers licensing of childcare centers within the Municipality of Anchorage to the municipality and that the department is providing technical support to Anchorage’s task force on licensing changes.

Ending: The department said it will provide the committee with a list of completed task force recommendations and follow up on timing and specific regulatory details for the friends‑families‑neighbors license.